The “city of peace” in the Osnabrück County
Located in the western part of Lower Saxony, Osnabrück is a major economic and cultural centre. Bordering at the Teutoburg Forest and the Wiehen Mountains, in the midst of the UNESCO Geopark TERRA.vita, Osnabrück offers many recreational attractions for its citizens as well as for tourists. Quite a few thermal health resorts in its immediate neighbourhood add to the charm of the city with its 150,000 inhabitants.
Regarding cultural activities Osnabrück offers many possibilities: Museums, theatres, the Zoo and the Botanic Gardens are open all through the year. A European Media Festival attracts visitors from near and far one in a year. The Felix Nussbaum-Haus is the most recent and also the most spectacular venue in Osnabrück. The building planned by the US-architect Daniel Libeskind in deconstructivist style shows the most comprehensive collection of paintings of the Jewish painter Felix Nussbaum worldwide.
Osnabrück is well-known for its commitment for peace, the tolerance between different parts of the population and also for the realisation of environment protection projects instigated by a local foundation and the university.
Osnabrück is called “city of peace” due to its leading role in putting an end to the Thirty Years´ War, when important parts of the “Peace of Westphalia” were agreed upon in Osnabrück. This peace agreement can be called one of the starting points of the existence of modern and contemporean Europe, since it was based on the principle “right before might” which still is accepted in our days.
Osnabrück was capital of one of the former independents German states, the “Prince-Bishopric of Osnabrück”, which lost its independence during the Napoleonic Wars when it was made part of the Kingdom of Hanover.
In the historical City Hall of late Gothic style the Westphalia peace was negotiated.
Formerly Prince Bishop’s Castle and one of the earliest baroque castles in Germany, the castle was built in 1668, but unfortunately completely burnt out during WW II. It was later on rebuilt as a modern building with historical facade. Today it is accommodating a university.
St. Peter’s Cathedral is a masterpiece of late Romanesque architecture. The first cathedral was consecrated in 785 and later rebuilt twice, at the final rebuilt with a mighty octagonal crossing tower.
The Museum of Industrial Culture exhibits Osnabruck’s development from its being as a 18th century citizen farmer town to a modern industrial and economic location of the present day. Central topic of the museum is the 19th century though.
The House of the Iron Age in Osnabruck country is a mixture of living space and barn in Venne dating back to the pre-Roman Iron Age. It was reconstructed on account of spectacular findings. A 3000 square metre huge experience area takes you back into the Iron Age: agriculture and crafts are exhibited on show surfaces and work places.
More information: http://www.osnabrueck.de/25374.asp
Photo: Ramona Gresch
